Payments Companies Making Mobile Wallets a Reality

Darrell Etherington

Wednesday, April 11, 2012 - 10:41

Connected smartphones can take the place of any number of other items, including mobile wallets. It's already starting thanks to companies like Square, PayPal and Google. But it isn’t only big companies rushing to fill that need; the space is a point of focus for plenty of smaller players, too, many of which are trying to do something a little different than what’s already out there.

Connected smartphones and other devices can take the place of any number of other items, including calculators, watches, maps and GPS devices. It’s only a matter of time before they also become mobile wallets, too, and in fact, that’s already starting thanks to companies like Square, PayPal and Google. But it isn’t only big companies rushing to fill that need; the space is a point of focus for plenty of smaller players, too, many of which are trying to do something a little different than what’s already out there.

Take Boku, for instance. Founded in 2009, the company provides mobile payment services tied to users’ cellular services, meaning they’re billed for things they via their monthly phone bill.